SEATTLE, Feb. 9 -- In 2006, Holland America Line will debut the new ms Noordam, visit Libya for the first time, feature eight ships cruising Alaska, and Australia/New Zealand voyages aboard the ms Statendam. The 13 ships of the world's leading premium cruise line will offer nearly 500 sailings to all seven continents from more than 25 home ports. Itineraries range from two to 108 days and feature many ports, including such new ones as Benghazi, Libya; Pearl Island, Panama; South Georgia Island in the sub-Antarctic islands; and Narvik, Norway.

"We will be offering more cruises to more destinations in 2006 and guests will have more choices of itineraries and homeports," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, senior vice president, marketing and sales. "Our Signature of Excellence enhancements will be completed on 10 ships at the start of 2006 and all 13 ships by the fall, so guests will enjoy such new amenities as our Culinary Arts Center and Explorations Cafe powered by the New York Times."

2006 DEPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS

* The Noordam debuts in February offering 10- and 11-day, roundtrip cruises from New York to the Caribbean. The newest Vista-class ship will sail 13 cruises to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean Feb. 22 to Apr. 5 and Oct. 14 to Dec. 16; it will also offer two 16-day transatlantic sailings and fifteen 10-day Mediterranean cruises from Rome.

* Eight ships will sail 159 cruises to Alaska. The ms Westerdam, ms Zaandam and ms Oosterdam will homeport in Seattle, and five ships will sail from Vancouver.

* The ms Statendam will feature nine 14-day sailings between Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand, during "Down Under's" summer -- Jan. 7 to Feb. 18 and Oct. 27 to Dec. 22 -- including a holiday cruise. The Statendam also sails from Australia to Indonesia, The Philippines, China, Korea, Japan and Russia in the spring and offers a 28-day South Pacific cruise from the U.S. West Coast to Auckland in the fall.

* The 793-passenger ms Prinsendam sails the "Circle of the Sun" Grand World Voyage that showcases a total solar eclipse Mar. 29, features nine maiden ports of call including Benghazi, Libya, and explores such exotic places as Madagascar, Zanzibar and Mombasa. The 108-day journey departs from Ft. Lauderdale Jan. 5 to visit 36 ports in 22 countries on six continents, including South America, Antarctica, South Africa, East Africa, India, and Mediterranean before returning to Fort Lauderdale on Apr. 20.

* The Prinsendam again will explore the Amazon River to Manaus, Brazil, on two South America cruises: a 28-day sailing from New York/ Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Lauderdale on Apr. 23 and a 24-day cruise from Cape Town, South Africa to Ft. Lauderdale on Nov. 8.

ALASKA
Eight ships will cruise to Alaska in 2006, including the addition of a third ship sailing from Seattle. The Westerdam, Oosterdam and Zaandam will be homeported in Seattle and sail seven-day, southeast Alaska cruises May 5 through Sept. 29. The Statendam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam, sail between Vancouver and Seward, visiting Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier. And the ms Volendam and ms Zuiderdam will offer seven-day cruises roundtrip from Vancouver to Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm. Holland America Line's CruiseTour options highlight the Yukon, Denali National Park, Canada's Kluane National Park and Tombstone Territorial Park.

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND & ASIA
The line's inaugural Australia/South Pacific season kicks off at the end of 2005 with a 35-day South America/South Pacific cruise from San Diego to Auckland on November 17, 2005, and a 16-day Australia/New Zealand holiday cruise from Auckland to Sydney on December 22, 2005. The ms Statendam then offers a series of nine 14-day cruises between Sydney and Auckland that spotlight port calls in Australia and Tasmania plus visits to the most noted sites on the north and south islands of beautiful New Zealand. A 16-day Australia, Orient and China cruise places the Statendam in Hong Kong for three 14-day China and Japan sailings followed by an 18-day trans-Pacific cruise calling in Japan, Russia's Far East and Alaska.

CANADA/NEW ENGLAND
The ms Maasdam will sail between Boston and Montreal May 13 through Oct. 7, offering 16 seven-day cruises total. It also offers a 15-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Montreal departing Apr. 28 and a 10-day cruise from Montreal to Norfolk sailing Oct. 7. Guests enjoy such ports as Martha's Vineyard; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Quebec. Summer sailings provide ideal opportunities for a family vacation and October itineraries are especially designed to take advantage of the region's famous display of dazzling fall color.

CARIBBEAN
Holland America Line remains the leader in 10-day or longer cruises, offering seven distinctive itineraries ranging from 10 to 16 days in 2006. It also offers the most complete 14-day Southern Caribbean itinerary and more choices of seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa than any other premium cruise line. A total of 10 ships will sail the Caribbean in 2006, including the Noordam from its new homeport of New York.

Sailing to the Southern Caribbean, the Maasdam features its popular 11-day itinerary from Norfolk. The Volendam will continue its exciting 10-day Seafarer itinerary roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, while the Ryndam will offer premium 14-day cruises roundtrip from Tampa. The Zaandam will sail 10-day Southern Caribbean-Panama Canal Sunfarer itineraries, and the Prinsendam will feature two cruises that venture up the remote Orinoco River in Venezuela.

The Westerdam and Zuiderdam will offer seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, many of which call at Half Moon Cay, the line's award-winning private Bahamian island. New activity choices include a horseback riding and swimming excursion, a stingray adventure, Half Moon Lagoon aqua park and an AquaTrax watercraft tour.

EUROPE & TRANSATLANTIC CRUISES
From May through October, Holland America Line is offering 55 European and transatlantic cruises on four ships in 2006, featuring the Noordam with 15 Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Rome.

Sister flagships, ms Rotterdam and ms Amsterdam, and the Prinsendam also cruise Europe. The Rotterdam will offer 10- to 15-day sailings between "European Capitals" such as Lisbon, Athens, Rotterdam and Copenhagen, plus feature Scandinavia and Russia cruises, from Apr. 20 to Oct. 22. The Amsterdam also will feature Scandinavia and Russia cruises, sailing roundtrip from Copenhagen on 10-day itineraries from May 23 to Aug. 11. The Prinsendam will sail a series of exotic 16- to 21-day cruises to such places as Spitzbergen, Iceland, the North Cape in Norway, and Egypt, North Africa, Greece and the Black Sea.

Around its Europe schedule, each ship will feature two transatlantic crossings that offer guests unusual ports of call. This Noordam sails two 16-day transatlantics between New York and Rome. The Amsterdam will cruise a north Atlantic route that includes Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The Rotterdam will sail the south Atlantic between Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon, calling at the Canary Islands, Gambia, Senegal, and Morocco. The Prinsendam offers a 34-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to the North Cape in the spring and a 22-day cruise from Lisbon to Cape Town, South Africa in the fall.

MEXICO AND HAWAII
Holland America Line's Oosterdam will cruise Mexico in 2006, offering 29 seven-day cruises roundtrip from San Diego to sun-drenched Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. The Zaandam will sail three 10-day Sea of Cortez cruises, adding Topolobampo for optional tours to Copper Canyon, Loreto and La Paz to the above ports. Holland America Line is the only premium line to sail the Sea of Cortez.

San Diego is also the homeport for Holland America Line's popular Circle Hawaii cruises. The Amsterdam leads with a 30-day Circle Hawaii/Tahiti/Marquesas cruise departing Jan. 6 and then offers five 15-day Hawaii sailings from Feb. 5 to Apr. 21. The Zaandam features four 15-day Circle Hawaii cruises in the fall, alternating them with its Mexico cruises from Oct. 7 to Dec. 21. Holland America Line is also offering an 18-day Circle Hawaii cruise on the Volendam that sails from Seattle to the islands and returns to Vancouver. Guests visit ports of call including Hilo and Kona, Hawaii; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai; and Lahaina, Maui, and cruise past Kauai's scenic Na Pali Coast and Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano.

PANAMA CANAL
In 2006 seven Holland America Line ships will feature 29 cruises highlighting the Panama Canal, including 15 roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Itineraries range from 10 to 34 days and depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, New York, Vancouver, Seattle and San Diego. Two transcanal cruises, departing Apr. 14 on the Zaandam and Apr. 22 on the Veendam, will feature a new port of call: Isla de San Jose on Pearl Island, Panama. While most transcanal cruises range from 17 to 21 days in length, the Veendam also features a 34-day voyage departing Sept. 24 from Vancouver to Tampa. En route, this cruise crosses the equator twice while exploring the Mexican Riviera, Caribbean, Amazon River and Brazil.

SOUTH AMERICA & AMAZON
Flagship Rotterdam and intimate Prinsendam will offer cruises to South America in 2006, providing guests with a distinct choice of itineraries. The Rotterdam will sail four 16-day cruises between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Valparaiso, Chile, departing Jan. 31 to Mar. 20 and two more Nov. 20 and Dec. 6. It will also feature two 20-day South America and Antarctica Explorer cruises with departures Jan. 11 and Dec. 22; these sailings add adventurous cruising along the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula. The Rotterdam's South America cruises highlight capitals such as Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, and stunning scenery including Tierra del Fuego and the Chilean Fjords. Some sailings include the Falkland Islands. The Prinsendam will also feature two cruises that add an adventure up the Amazon River to Manaus, Brazil. A 28-day cruise will sail from New York/ Ft. Lauderdale on Apr. 23 and another 46-day cruise will sail from Lisbon, via Cape Town, South Africa, to Ft. Lauderdale on Oct. 17.

thanks for the news postings, but I really think you should have posted the whole HAL press release in one posting rather than splitting it up into nine (!) different threads.

While news postings are appreciated, they tend to flood the forums when posted in an excessive way, which is something the members do not particularly like, from what I have heard from several of them.

Please keep this in mind for future postings, if possible.

I have edited your above message so that it now includes the whole press release. The other threads have been deleted.